"Possession:" Two Contrasting Looks At Love
Possession
Rated PG-13
Now Playing
Carol's grade: B+
The Plot:
Roland Michell (Aaron Eckhart) is an American scholar living and working in London. The focus of his work is Randolph Henry Ash, once poet laureate to Queen Victoria. Roland discovers original drafts of two love letters tucked inside of a book once owned by Ash. Ostensibly, they are in the poet's own hand. The letters, if authenticated, could alter the way history regards the renowned poet.
Research leads Roland to believe the letters may have been written to noted Victorian poet and feminist, Christabel LaMotte. The American enlists the help of proper British academic and LaMotte expert, Maud
Bailey (Gwyneth Paltrow) to look for the truth.
CAROL's Take:
"Possession" exists in two worlds. In one, Roland and Maud suffer a relationship compromised by their mutual mistrust of the opposite sex. In the other, Ash (Jeremy Northam) and LaMotte (Jennifer Ehle)
fall deeply in love.
The contrasts in "Possession" are striking. The two poets live in a world filled with taboo and shame, yet manage to engage in a rapturous, breathtaking romance. On the other hand, the two contemporary scholars live in a world filled with freedoms, but neither one is willing to be in love - suspicious of the very concept.
"Possession" is adapted from A.S. Byatt's novel. Words play a critical role in telling the story. Often, when we are watching Ash and LaMotte together, we hear Maud and Roland read from the Victorians' poems or letters. This layering is both effective and delightful. The words used to convey their feelings are simply beautiful.
While none of the acting in "Possession" is frivolous, unevenness is a problem. It is tough to believe the passionate Eckhart as a scholar. And Paltrow's Maud, while believably British, is inconsistent in character. Northam and Ehle, however, light up the screen. They infuse their tragic characters with enormous amounts of
faith and joy. When they're on screen, it's difficult to look away for fear of missing a glance, a gesture or a word that remains unspoken.
All in all, "Possession" offers two contrasting stories, merged into a romantic mystery well worth watching.
© 2002 Webster-Kirkwood Times, Inc.
Movie reviews by Carol Hemphill and Kent Tentschert
reelworld@timesnewspapers.com
